168 QUALITY OF THE GOLD. 



as likely to be found in one part of it as in 

 another. All the best 'diggings' in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the water, however, seem 

 pretty well excavated: in some places the 

 hills and valleys are Uterally cut up Uke a 

 honey-comb. 



It has been the impression of some per- 

 sons, that the gold of this region was origi- 

 nally accumulated in some particular deposit, 

 and that it has thus been spread over the sur- 



of the country by some volcanic erup- 



tion. 



The dust and grains obtained at this mine, 

 are virgin gold, and, as before remarked, of 

 ver}^ fine quahty, producing at the United 

 States Mint an average of at least $19 70 to 

 the ounce troy after melting, or about $19 30 

 gross. It was at first bought by the traders 

 at the rate of fifteen dollars per ounce, but in 

 consequence of the competition which was 

 afterwards excited among the dealers, its price 

 was raised for a short time above its maxi- 

 mum at the Mint,* although it has since set- 

 tled down at about $17 30 per ounce troy. 



During the process of these excavations, 

 when such a depth has been reached as to 

 render a ladder indispensable, a pole ten or 

 fifteen feet long is cut full of notches for that 

 purpose, and set diagonally in the orifice. In 

 proportion as the pit becomes deeper, others 

 are added, forming a somewhat precarious 

 zigzag stahcase, by which the agile muier 

 descends and ascends without even using his 

 hands to assist himself, although wdth a large 



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